Autumn in spring, take 2

The last post showed a goldeneye plant flowering while the earth was on the wrong side of its orbit around the sun. I’d noticed that yellow-flowered species extending its blossoming through January, February, and even March of 2012—as I had another native plant, white mistflower, Ageratina havanensis. In fact on February 5th I showed a closeup of mistflowers that I’d photographed along Mopac four days earlier, and I mentioned how unusual it was to still find them in Austin so late.

Well, just as the goldeneye has started back up half a year earlier than its traditional time, so has the mistflower, some of which I found only a block away from the goldeneye in my neighborhood on May 1. The mistflower bushes that I’m used to seeing along Mopac also flowered again, as did the even greater number in Great Hills Park. It’s a bizarre year, botanically speaking, but a great time for a nature photographer in central Texas.

Thanks, Cindy. I used flash for both of these, which is why the background went dark. I’m happy to have both of these growing wild along streets in my neighborhood, but I’m always worried that some groundskeeper will cut them down.

Even without scrolling I’ll say that I appreciate your enthusiasm, Lynda. By the way, I drove past this spot a few hours ago and the bushes still have flowers on them. In the contiguous 48 states this species doesn’t grow outside Texas, but you can probably find other types of mistflowers near you. They attract lots of insects, especially butterflies.

Ha-ha, I just looked up mistflower and Google brought up a bunch of Ageratum looking flowers… none of which looked like yours… or for that matter, the wild ones growing in the sun outside my dining room window! Apparently, there is much variety in this flower family. ~ L

The species shown in this post used to be classified as Eupatorium havananse. I just found that Eupatorium serotinum (which we also have in Austin) and Eupatorium perfoliatum grow in some parts of Alabama.

Lovely flowers, in or out of season, and I enjoyed seeing the close-up, too, which I think was taken before I knew of your blog. I’m curious to know the real-life size of this plant. I’m assuming it’s a tiny beauty, but perhaps that’s off the mark.

The plant is a bush that I’ve seen grow to as much as 6 feet tall, but the flower clusters are fairly small. The cluster at the lower left in this picture, including the semi-detached part of it near the bottom of the picture, probably measured no more than an inch and a half in its longest dimension. Though the clusters are individually small, there can be quite a few of them on the plant.

You’re the first to link one of my black backgrounds with female fashion. That reminds me of the recent picture of a pair of pearl milkweed flowers that some commenters turned into earrings and a brooch.